Ravens got what they wanted

FILE - In this Dec. 24, 2011, file photo, Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis rallies the crowd in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore. Houston Texans' Arian Foster was in his first season as a starter in 2010 when the Texans hosted the Ravens, and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis grabbed the running back after a play. Lewis had already become a fan and told Foster: 'I love the way you play this game.' Since then the pair have become friends off the field and shared their mutual admiration for each other this week as Houston is scheduled to face Baltimore on Jan. 15, 2012, in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)— AP

FILE - In this Dec. 24, 2011, file photo, Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis rallies the crowd in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore. Houston Texans' Arian Foster was in his first season as a starter in 2010 when the Texans hosted the Ravens, and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis grabbed the running back after a play. Lewis had already become a fan and told Foster: 'I love the way you play this game.' Since then the pair have become friends off the field and shared their mutual admiration for each other this week as Houston is scheduled to face Baltimore on Jan. 15, 2012, in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
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FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2010, file photo, New Orleans Saints center Jonathan Goodwin (76) prepares to hike to quarterback Drew Brees (9) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami. Goodwin, who won a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints two years ago, has been giving his San Francisco teammates playoff tips. The 49ers have only eight players with postseason experience; the Saints had 39 before defeating Detroit. Goodwin's insights could help in their NFC divisional playoff game scheduled for Jan. 14, 2012, against the Saints. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)— AP

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2010, file photo, New Orleans Saints center Jonathan Goodwin (76) prepares to hike to quarterback Drew Brees (9) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami. Goodwin, who won a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints two years ago, has been giving his San Francisco teammates playoff tips. The 49ers have only eight players with postseason experience; the Saints had 39 before defeating Detroit. Goodwin's insights could help in their NFC divisional playoff game scheduled for Jan. 14, 2012, against the Saints. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)
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New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) takes down Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)— AP

New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) takes down Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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The divisional round of the NFL playoffs will make a stop at the Inner Harbor on Sunday when the Ravens host the Houston Texans. It's the first home playoff game under Harbaugh, who led the team to a wild-card berth in his previous three seasons.

While the Ravens (12-4) don't have home-field advantage for the entire AFC playoffs unless New England loses Saturday night to Denver, it's a cozy start for Baltimore, which won all eight games at M&T Bank Stadium in 2011.

"If you look at wild-card weekend, I don't think that there was one home team that lost the whole weekend," Lewis said accurately. "When you get into that, it plays a big momentum. It's a big momentum swing for you. It's just hard to win on the road. I don't care who you are, I don't care how good you are, it's hard to win on the road.

"For us to work as hard as we did, get 12 wins, do the things we were supposed to do, and now get this home playoff game, we have positioned ourselves to be in the right place. Now we have to go finish it."

The divisional round begins Saturday with New Orleans (13-4) at San Francisco (13-3). It ends with the New York Giants (10-7) at defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (15-1).

Houston lost 29-14 at Baltimore in October, when the Texans were healthier than they have been for the last six weeks. But they've dealt with their injuries so well that they won their first division crown and, last week in their postseason debut, beat the Bengals handily.

So if hosting a playoff game is relatively new for the Ravens - they have done it three times, but haven't won one since 2000, the year they took the Super Bowl - being in one is totally new this year for the Texans.

Also new would be a win over the Ravens, who are 5-0 against Houston.

"It's been pretty one-sided so, we've got to get on the board," tackle Eric Winston said. "At the same time, you've got to look back on it and I don't think a lot of that stuff is going to have a lot of bearing on this game either, though. So, there's different guys, there's a different situation and we all know from past experiences that playoffs, funny things happen in the playoffs and games turn out a lot different than they did in the regular season. So hopefully we can hold true to that."

The Packers also have a regular-season win over their opponent, a 38-35 victory at the Meadowlands. It was one of Green Bay's most difficult games.

The Giants have won four of five since that loss, including manhandling Atlanta 24-2 last weekend. Their pass rush has come alive and the running game has awakened.